Funeral party reveals truths in moving film
Published on Thu, May 19, 2011 by Bob ConnallyRead More Arts & Entertainment
"Get Low"
(PG-13, Now avail.)
The opening image of this film from Aaron Schneider is so striking that we are absorbed before we meet one character. The only thing more powerful than this image is the personality of Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), a cantankerous hermit in Depression-era Tennessee. Living in a shack he built himself on a massive plot of land, stories of Felix are known by everyone across several counties. But no one actually knows him.
Realizing he is nearing the end of his life, Felix decides that while he's still alive he wants to throw a party. A funeral party. He wants to invite everyone who has a story about him so that they can all be told. Felix needs assistance with setting this up but doesn't know where to turn when the local pastor (Gerald McRaney) is simply baffled by the request. Fortunately, Felix finds help on his doorstep.
Buddy Robinson (Lucas Black, "Jarhead") is the new salesman for a funeral home owned by Frank Quinn (Bill Murray). Quinn, concerned that his business is ironically about to go under due to the lack of local deaths, enlists longtime assistant Buddy to sell Felix on the idea of letting Quinn Funeral Home put the party together. Buddy's inherent goodness wins Felix over, while Felix's one of a kind personality charms the young man, making him care that much more about doing this right.
As Quinn and Buddy begin to advertise Felix's party, Felix shows more of himself to them, which actually creates an even greater mystery about the man who's locked himself away from the world for the past 40 years. Along the way Felix re-connects with one of the few people who knew him long ago, Mattie (Sissy Spacek).
Written by Chris Provenzano and C. Gaby Mitchell, "Get Low" is an excellent study of a man who desperately needs to talk about what has eaten him from the inside out over the past four decades, but isn't sure that he can. It's not overstating to say that Duvall is extraordinary. The best and worst in Felix are constantly at work, his internal struggle felt every moment he's on screen. Murray, meanwhile, is great in his understated role as the slightly greasy but ultimately decent funeral home owner. Black is wonderful as Buddy, a man with such a big heart that Felix feels, "For every one like me there must be one like you."
"Get Low" is a film that keeps us absorbed, thanks to its outstanding characterizations and the way that it builds to the truth about what Felix has been hiding away for all this time. Deeply moving with the right touch of humor, this is a film I can highly recommend. 9/10.
(PG-13, Now avail.)
The opening image of this film from Aaron Schneider is so striking that we are absorbed before we meet one character. The only thing more powerful than this image is the personality of Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), a cantankerous hermit in Depression-era Tennessee. Living in a shack he built himself on a massive plot of land, stories of Felix are known by everyone across several counties. But no one actually knows him.
Realizing he is nearing the end of his life, Felix decides that while he's still alive he wants to throw a party. A funeral party. He wants to invite everyone who has a story about him so that they can all be told. Felix needs assistance with setting this up but doesn't know where to turn when the local pastor (Gerald McRaney) is simply baffled by the request. Fortunately, Felix finds help on his doorstep.
Buddy Robinson (Lucas Black, "Jarhead") is the new salesman for a funeral home owned by Frank Quinn (Bill Murray). Quinn, concerned that his business is ironically about to go under due to the lack of local deaths, enlists longtime assistant Buddy to sell Felix on the idea of letting Quinn Funeral Home put the party together. Buddy's inherent goodness wins Felix over, while Felix's one of a kind personality charms the young man, making him care that much more about doing this right.
As Quinn and Buddy begin to advertise Felix's party, Felix shows more of himself to them, which actually creates an even greater mystery about the man who's locked himself away from the world for the past 40 years. Along the way Felix re-connects with one of the few people who knew him long ago, Mattie (Sissy Spacek).
Written by Chris Provenzano and C. Gaby Mitchell, "Get Low" is an excellent study of a man who desperately needs to talk about what has eaten him from the inside out over the past four decades, but isn't sure that he can. It's not overstating to say that Duvall is extraordinary. The best and worst in Felix are constantly at work, his internal struggle felt every moment he's on screen. Murray, meanwhile, is great in his understated role as the slightly greasy but ultimately decent funeral home owner. Black is wonderful as Buddy, a man with such a big heart that Felix feels, "For every one like me there must be one like you."
"Get Low" is a film that keeps us absorbed, thanks to its outstanding characterizations and the way that it builds to the truth about what Felix has been hiding away for all this time. Deeply moving with the right touch of humor, this is a film I can highly recommend. 9/10.